Florence, South Carolina Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Florence, South Carolina: median public in-state tuition $7,898 (+43.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $43,888 (-19.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 89.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $12,250 (-7.7% vs U.S.) 5,855 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 5,855 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $7,898 (+43.3% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $43,888 (-19.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 89.5% (+1.5 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $11,386 (+14.2% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $12,250 (-7.7% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 43.4%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 70.0%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Florence serve students across South Carolina with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 5,855 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $7,898. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Florence, South Carolina and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Florence vs South Carolina & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence, South Carolina | $7,898 | $11,386 | $12,250 | 43.4% | 5,855 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $7,558 | $11,376 | $15,392 | 48.0% | 199,420 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Florence, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence, South Carolina | $43,888 | 89.5% | 70.0% | 6.9% | — | 58.2% | 0.62 |
| South Carolina (state median) | $44,978 | 88.9% | 69.8% | 6.3% | — | 66.1% | 0.55 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in South Carolina (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence, South Carolina | $7,898 | $11,386 | $12,250 | 43.4% | 5,855 | $43,888 | 89.5% |
| Columbia | $18,145 | $22,811 | $21,500 | 30.6% | 35,341 | $36,686 | 87.1% |
| Columbia | $18,145 | $22,811 | $21,500 | 30.6% | 35,341 | $36,686 | 87.1% |
| Columbia | $18,145 | $22,811 | $21,500 | 30.6% | 35,341 | $36,686 | 87.1% |
| Charleston | $12,978 | $19,019 | $15,000 | 63.9% | 27,302 | $64,250 | 88.1% |
| Charleston | $12,978 | $19,019 | $15,000 | 63.9% | 27,302 | $64,250 | 88.1% |
| Conway | $8,054 | $9,062 | $19,000 | 48.5% | 16,651 | $47,258 | 78.5% |
| Conway | $8,054 | $9,062 | $19,000 | 48.5% | 16,651 | $47,258 | 78.5% |
| Greenville | $18,484 | $17,979 | $15,988 | 42.8% | 15,579 | $44,354 | 81.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Florence, South Carolina by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 43.4%, Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University
Top college in Florence, South Carolina by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 89.5%, Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University
Most selective college in Florence, South Carolina (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 86.4%, Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University
Top college in Florence, South Carolina by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $70,110, Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University
Top college in Florence, South Carolina by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $72,580, Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University
Top college in Florence, South Carolina by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,304, Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University
Top college in Florence, South Carolina by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $38,848, Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University
Top college in Florence, South Carolina by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $43,888, Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University
Top college in Florence, South Carolina by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $141,054, Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University
Most affordable college in Florence, South Carolina (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $11,386, Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University
Top college in Florence, South Carolina by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 70.0%, Francis Marion University
Francis Marion University
In-state tuition: Florence, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Florence, South Carolina median in-state tuition is $7,898, +43.3% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Florence, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Florence, South Carolina is $12,250 (-7.7% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Florence, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Florence, South Carolina center around $43,888 (-19.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Florence, South Carolina vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 89.5% at the median Florence, South Carolina campus (+1.5 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Florence, South Carolina median public in-state tuition is $7,898, about +43.3% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +58.2%.
Median graduate debt is $12,250 (-7.7% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Florence, South Carolina are $43,888, about -19.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 89.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+1.5 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 70.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 58.2% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Francis Marion University (89.5%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Florence, South Carolina is 43.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Florence?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Florence, South Carolina with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Florence?
Median in-state tuition in Florence is $7,898 and median net price is $11,386. For South Carolina overall, medians are $7,558 and $11,376; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Florence?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Florence is $43,888 vs $44,978 for South Carolina and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Florence colleges?
Median completer debt in Florence is $12,250 vs $15,392 for South Carolina and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Florence?
Top campuses on this page include Francis Marion University (graduation) and Francis Marion University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Florence?
Among 3 College Scorecard campuses in Florence, South Carolina, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- South Carolina college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON